After spending nearly a decade in Kansas City, I recently moved to Palo Alto with my husband and our mini–Australian Shepherd. I began my career as a patent attorney, with a background in materials engineering and chemistry, a little less than five years ago. During this time, I practiced at boutique law firms based in Kansas City and Washington, D.C. I also help lead philanthropic initiatives at my alma mater as chair of its Alumni Council’s Giving Committee.

Outside of my professional life, I’m a devoted Chiefs and Huskers fan, and when I’m not managing my fantasy football team, I’m likely on a soccer field, out biking, or deep into a quirky fiction novel.

Can you tell us about your educational journey after leaving BT?

I earned my B.S. in chemistry from MidAmerica Nazarene University, where I also ran track and played soccer. Upon graduating, I decided to go to law school. At the University of Kansas School of Law, I was the first woman of color to serve as editor‑in‑chief of the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy, served in several roles, and received the Samuel Mellinger Award for scholarship, leadership, and service at graduation. About two years into my practice, I realized that, while my chemistry background served as a great foundation for understanding the science behind innovations, there was a clear opportunity for me to strengthen my understanding of the engineering principles driving these real-world solutions. To bridge these gaps and gain foundational knowledge, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in materials science and engineering in view of its interdisciplinary nature, leading me to Stanford University, where I graduated in June and received the School of Engineering Dean’s Exceptional Graduate Student Award.

How did BT help prepare you for what you are doing now?

BT gave me the analytical and quantitative foundation—kudos to Mrs. Simkins, Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs. Rise—I use every day. Furthermore, Mr. Larsen’s emphasis on active writing, along with Mr. Hamel’s Beatles-inspired sentence diagramming, taught me that good, persuasive writing balances precision with informed intuition. This training is essential to my legal practice, which relies on both legal and technical writing. Additionally, participating on the BT speech team was equally formative, offering early opportunities to think creatively, articulate under pressure, and shape ideas depending on the audience and subject matter.

What advice would you give to current BT students?

Quite frankly, at BT, you are surrounded by exceptional people. Trust this foundation, as you’ll see its strength over time. Also, take full advantage of BT’s scale; its small size gives you room to try everything. At 5’0”, I had absolutely NO business on a basketball court in high school, but it served as another opportunity and context, of many, to learn a lifelong lesson. And, of course, what may seem peripheral now can become central later, so sign up for Mr. Gould’s choir class—even if you’ve never formally sung before.